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The festivities have already begun, but the best is yet to come. The 2023 edition of the Spanish Junior, Under-12, and Under-10 Championships has kicked off at the Real Novo Sancti Petri and El Campano courses in Cádiz with exceptional weather, five rounds under par, and an unbeatable atmosphere at both courses. Take note of these names, in case we see them around these pages on Thursday: Luis del Rosal, Sofía Gamilla, Oliver de Wint, Liz Hao, Ángel Revuelta, Enzo Jiménez, Candela Visus,…
Video summary and statements from day 1
CHILDREN'S: The older ones start below par
The first to finish were the boys in the junior category, and they did so with phenomenal results. Three rounds under par were recorded, two of them by local players from Andalusia. These were the rounds of Luis del Rosal and Samuel Love, a boy who already knows what it's like to achieve great things in this tournament; he finished third as a junior in 2019.
The fact is that both Luis del Rosal and Samuel Love are tied for the lead with 70 strokes (-2). Keep an eye on the four birdies between holes 11 and 16 by the former, a golfer from La Cañada who boasts a spectacular tee-to-green game. “Putting isn't my strong point, but it worked quite well today,” he said in the clubhouse. Juan Miró from Valencia, another golfer with considerable experience in the tournament (he was the Spanish Junior Champion in 2021), is in third place with -1.
Then came the women's round, and in it, an exceptional round was played by Madrid natives Liz Hao and Andrea Revuelta, and León's Cristina García. The first two (who bear illustrious surnames that have brought great joy to Spanish golf) finished the day under par (-1), riding a rollercoaster of emotions, especially in Liz's case.
Cristina García didn't finish under par, mainly because on her penultimate hole her ball ended up in a tree. That's golf. In any case, her game deserved all the praise.
YOUNGSTERS: Sofía Gamilla continues on the triumphant path of 2022
Just like the younger children, the boys in the under-12 category also finished their rounds in the morning. Oliver de Wint from Malaga and Jorge de la Riva from A Coruña both started with rounds of 74 strokes (+2) and shared a common strength: they managed to reduce their number of bogeys to three on a demanding course.
The golfer from La Zapateira is a great putter, that's his strength, and he proved it on the Centro course at Novo Sancti Petri. Third place with a commendable +3 goes to Guillermo Alonso from Asturias, who was very precise in executing a trio of birdies.
The under-12s, meanwhile, teed off in the afternoon and delivered a competition in which one name stood out above the rest. A name, moreover, already familiar to everyone: Sofía Gamilla from La Cañada, Andalusia. Her 73 strokes (+1) have given her the lead with a very comfortable six-stroke advantage over Irene Lavilla (+7). Martina Cerrillo, with +8, is in third place.
It's worth remembering that Sofía Gamilla not only won the under-10 race last year, but also proved to be an extraordinary kicker. She demonstrated that same skill again this Tuesday, though it wasn't her only impressive performance; she saved a couple of balls with a kick of around 100 meters.
BENJAMIN: Enzo Jimenez and Candela Visus, the best among the youngest
And as every year, to find the biggest smiles of the tournament, you have to go and see the hundred or so youngest players who bring unparalleled color. They all play at the Campano Golf Club, just ten minutes from the adults. Enzo Jiménez from Castile and León, with a score of +2 after his nine regulation holes, and Candela Visus from Valencia, with a +3, have achieved the best results.
Enzo Jiménez from Soria was the first star of the morning in Chiclana. At just ten years old, he's incredibly tall, and that skill helped him stand out in a very competitive event; not surprisingly, there were the +4 times of Tito Serra, Francisco Esclápez, and Jaime de Wint (what a dynasty from Málaga!).
Enzo Jiménez himself, brimming with happiness, revealed the secret to his successful return to the clubhouse: “Everything went well for me, it was one of those days. My father always tells me that par is always a good result, and that's what I tried to do today.”.
For her part, Candela Visus has beaten Andalusian Cornelia Bermudo and Madrid native Daniela Lozano by one stroke, both with +4. These three young players managed to catch the most precious thing in the tournament, a birdie.
To cap off an exciting first day, the boys and girls in the category enjoyed a drive and putt competition at Novo Sancti Petri. You'd never guess they'd played just a few hours earlier; their enthusiasm for golf overcame any signs of fatigue. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day for any young golfer.
CLASSIFICATIONS 1st day
Boys
1.- Luis del Rosal 70 (-2)
2. Samuel Love 70 (-2)
3.- Juan Miró 71 (-1)
Girls' Junior
1.- Liz Siyu Hao 71 (-1)
+.- Angela Revuelta 71 (-1)
3.- Clara Uso 72 (pair)
+.- Cristina García 72 (even)
Boys' Under-12
1.- Oliver de Wint 74 (+2)
+.- Jorge de la Riva 74 (+2)
3.- Guillermo Alonso 75 (+3)
Girls' Under-12
1.- Sofia Gamilla 73 (+1)
2.- Irene Lavilla 79 (+7)
3.- Martina Cerrillo 80 (+8)
Benjamin Male
1.- Enzo Jiménez +2
2.- Tito Serra +4
+.- Jaime de Wint +4
+.- Francisco Esclapez +4
Benjamin Female
1.- Candela Visus +3
2. Cornelia Bermudo +4
+.- Daniela Lozano +4
Check out the full results, departure times, photo gallery and other additional information below, in the Related Links section.
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